Matriarch of Cook’s Pest Control Dies at 92

DECATUR, AL — Eleanor “Jo” Mitcham Cook, the matriarch of Cook’s Pest Control, died on Monday, December 7, 2020, at her home surrounded by family. She was 92.She was best known in the pest management industry as the supportive wife and “right hand” of John Cook Sr., founder of Cook’s Pest Control.

Born Sept. 21, 1928, in Atlanta, Ga., Eleanor Elizabeth “Jo” was the only child of James and Lola Mitcham. After graduating from Commercial High School in Atlanta, she her future husband, who was enlisted in the Navy and served during World War II in Atlanta and in the South Pacific until discharged in 1946. On July 12, 1946, they married.

Mrs. Cook worked as a secretary while her husband studied architecture at Georgia Tech, graduating in 1950. That same year, after the death of his father, Mr. Cook gave up his dream of a career in architecture and returned to Decatur to fulfill termite guarantees for the family business, North Alabama Termite Company, later renamed Cook’s Pest Control. Under his leadership and with his wife’s help, Cook’s grew from one full-time employee and only a few accounts to become one of the largest pest control companies in the United States.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook built Cook’s Natural Science Museum in 1980 as a place to share the wonder of God’s creation with the public. On June 7, 2019, Mrs. Cook and her family opened the newly created Cook Museum of Natural Science in downtown Decatur.

When Decatur Heritage Christian Academy was established in 1995, Mr. and Mrs. Cook joined others in freely offering their time and resources in support of academic excellence in Christian education. Globally, they led mission trips to Moldova and Ukraine. Mrs. Cook served on the Auxiliary Board of Directors for Titus International. 

In 1965, with a desire to share their faith, Mr. and Mrs. Cook began hosting a weekly Bible study, from which First Bible Church of Decatur was established. They were charter members, serving in various capacities through the years. During the 1970s and 1980s, they were lay staff members with Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru) and hosted a high school ministry in their home. Mrs. Cook was an excellent Bible teacher. In 2014 she wrote a study guide, Molded by the Potter’s Hand, which she used with Neighborhood Christian Center’s jail ministry to women.

Mrs. Cook served the community through the Civitan Auxiliary, the Decatur General Auxiliary (now Decatur Morgan Hospital), the Junior League of Morgan County, Business and Professional Women’s Club, and as area representative for Christian Women’s Club.

In 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Cook’s life story was recorded in the book, Employee Number 2: The Story of John Cook and Cook’s Pest Control. In 2012, Columbia International University awarded Mrs. Cook an honorary doctorate. The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce honored her with the ATHENA Leadership Award at their Women in Business Celebration on October 1, 2019.

Mrs. Cook is survived by her son John Robert (Lyn) Cook, Jr., grandson Brian (Leslie) Cook, great-grandson John Davis Cook, and two great-granddaughters, Nora Jean Cook and Virginia Kate Cook, all of Decatur. A dear cousin, Gladys Mitcham Cook, resides near Atlanta.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband of 62 years, and infant son James Lewis Cook.

Grateful appreciation is expressed to Dr. Jeff Johnson, caregiver Nell Gholston, Hospice of the Valley, and Roselawn Funeral Home.

Due to the coronavirus COVID-19, there will be no funeral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Neighborhood Christian Center, 619 Bank Street, Decatur, AL 35601, or Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, P.O. Box 5659, Decatur, AL 35601.